Archive for August, 2007

The below is just a portion of an on going back and forth between Jack Thompson and Rockstar games.

From: Jack Thompson

Sent: Monday, August 27, 2007 4:55 PM

Subject: Letter to Take-Two’s Strauss Zelnick, Ben Feder Re Manhunt 2

Dear Mr. Zelnick and Mr. Feder:

Congratulations on receiving a “Mature” rating for Manhunt 2. You’ll live to regret it (trust me), so enjoy it while you can.

I want to bring to your attention the fact that at http://www.rockstargames.com anyone of any age can order Manhunt 2 and receive it, with no age verification whatsoever. Asking a 14-year-old if he’s 17 is not age verification, now is it?

You also know that the use of a bank card as an age verifier is a violation of all bank card agreements, right?

Mr. Thompson,Your statements regarding our practices are false, as you know or should have known.

The Take Two website verifies age in two ways. First, consumers who purchase M or RP rated games certify that they are at least 17 years of age. Numerous websites use the same method for verifying age in connection with sales of movies and games. Second, we verify age through the use of a credit card number in connection with a transaction. Such transaction based verification is acceptable to both credit card companies and the FTC (see, e.g. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/coppa.shtm).

We demand that you cease making these false statements about our online sales practices. Your dissemination of knowingly false statements for the purpose of adversely affecting Take-Two’s business is actionable and we reserve all of our rights under the settlement agreement and state and federal law.

Not only are your statements clearly false, but they were made in an email publicly disseminated to both the FTC and the press. Please be assured that I am happy to answer any questions you have concerning our practices in a private communications. It is for this very reason that our settlement agreement designates a legal contact for you at Take Two.

If you continue to make false statements to an audience of press and public officials, however, we will have no choice but to take action against you.

As you should be aware, credit cards cannot be used to verify the age of buyers. Kids have credit cards, and they use parents’ credit cards. You have then got to be kidding me.

Take-Two is welcome to use age verification software that is available for on-line alcohol, firearm and other purchases of adult material. Stop lying.

Thanks

Jack Thompson, Attorney

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The rest here, well Jack Thompson sure is getting sassy, At this point he’s just harrassing Rockstar because they make M games. In my opinion, Jack Thompson needs to butt out, he’s a pretty bad lawyer to begin with, and if he didn’t keep attacking video games not only would no one ever know who he is but he wouldn’t have nearly as mant cases. And maybe that’s just my personal bias against him, but honestly this man is out of control. I have one more thing to say on this, KICK HIM TO THE CURB ROCKSTAR!!!

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By the way I’m going to be gone from the rest of the day into tomorow, so I’ll catch up any news I might miss when I return.

Once again it appears Nintendo isn’t going to make an appearence at the Tokyo Game Show, they will be hosting their own private event on September 5. Capcom is also scheduled to have a special event tomorow, and Sega is scheduled for one on September 14.

I had to go to Wal-Mart today to pick up some school supplies and a Wifi Adaptor for my Wii sense my current wireless is crap. And after seeing this post on Gonintendo, my need to go to Wal-Mart greatly increased, and when I check sure enough they were selling it so I picked up the Wifi adaptor and Metroid (and some binders) and was on my way. So for those who can’t wait to pick up Metroid head out to Wal-Mart now.

Super C is the sequel to first Contra for the NES, the game is highly detailed (for an NES title) and combines both side scrolling and top down shooting action. The game looks pretty good and if I had more than 300 VC points I would probably pick it up. Below is a speed through of about the first half of the game:

Breath Of Fire II- SNES, Rated E

Breath of Fire II is a turn based RPG that follows the story of two orphans, Ryu (Not really an orphan his parents were kidnapped and everyone in town thinks he’s an orphan) and Bow (A dog like person with a cross bow) who go on an adventure to find Ryu’s kidnapped family. The game looks interesting but personally I’m not much of a turn based strategy fan so chances are I probably won’t pick this up (or download it, which ever you prefer). Below is one of the first boss fights in the game

Ghouls ‘n Ghosts- Genesis, Rated E

Ghouls ‘n Ghosts is the Sequel to the arcade hit, Ghouls ‘n Goblins. In this adventure you play as Arthur, a knight whose princess’s soul has been stolen and it’s up to him to get it back. This is one of the classic adventure titles, and when you get hit by and attack all your armor falls off and you must fight in your briefs. Once again if I had the points I might give this game a try. Below is a clip of Ghouls ‘N Ghosts

-On a side note Metroid Prime 3 ships today! and I can’t promise news as frequently as in the past months because I’m gone half the day due to school.

After months of debate Rockstar has dumbed down Manhunt 2 and resubmitted it to the ESRB, who after careful review have given the game an “M” rating instead of the previous “AO” Rating. The game is slated to hit store shelves this Halloween. Rockstar is still trying to lift the ban on the game in UK, we’ll continue to cover that story as it develops.

That’s right, the final videos “Dark Samus” and “Mine Battle” have been added to the Metroid Preview channel. And it looks like Nintendo’s done giving use previews for Metroid sense the game ships on Monday. The Sark Samus videos is pretty cool, I can’t wait for Monday (although at the same time I can because that’s when school starts back up.)